Il Posto Cafe
5529, 4607 Dryades St, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon
Backstory
Owner Madison Curry operated a place a lot like this in New York before returning to her hometown in 2007 to open Il Posto. She has a family connection to the restaurant biz: her stepmother Pat Morrow started Restaurant Des Familles down in Crown Point. (No common themes there.)
Dining Room
This part of Uptown has numerous small businesses scattered among the predominant residences, and Il Posto is on one of them. It's a block and two block respectively away from Charlie's Steak House and Pascal's Manale, two ancient eateries that could hardly be more different from Il Posto's sleek, modern environs and hip menu. The room is cool and quiet, with a coffeehouse feeling and the aromas of Italian salumi and savory vegetables--very appealing. The tables on the sidewalk may get more use than those inside. Live music, sometimes.
Why It's Essential
Il Posto is as much a scene as it is a restaurant. With a menu of Italian-style salads, sandwiches, and soups, it also functions as an upscale coffeehouse--the kind of place where a ground of young adults show up after school or work, or where friends meet to hang out over a meal that's not quite a full meal.
Why It's Good
The ingredients--particularly the breads and cured meats--are of excellent quality. Cheeses are sourced from St. James Cheese Shop--and you can't get better than that. The preparations are good but uncomplicated. The most difficult menu-shopping will concern what you want in your panini. There's not really an entree on the menu, other than salads or sandwiches. Breakfast offers bagels, pastries, juices, and hard-boiled eggs. On the other hand, specials add to the possibilities.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>breakfast</strong></em><br /> Bagels or toast (with a variety of fillings)<br /> Organic oatmeal<br /> Organic granola<br /> Fruit cup<br /> Yogurt<br /> Hard boiled eggs <br /> <em><strong>Salads</strong></em><br /> Antipasto platter <br /> Italian tuna salad, avocado, tomatoes<br /> Beet, walnut, gorgonzola salad<br /> Bresaola, greens, parmigiano, lemon herb vinaigrette <br /> Insalata caprese<br /> Soup of the day<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches </strong></em><br /> Bruschetta, tomato, basil <br /> Capri (tuna salad, lemon, thyme, tomato, red onion)<br /> Lox on toasted multi-grain bread, caperberries<br /> Bresaola, mixed greens, lemon-herb dressing<br /> Egg salad, greens, tomatoes <br /> Proscuitto San Daniele, tomato, basil pesto <br /> Tuna and white bean salad<br /> Peperoncino (roasted red peppers, basil pesto, mozzarella)<br /> Proscuitto (roasted peppers, basil pesto, mozzarella)<br /> Milano (sopressata, Fontina, tomatoes, balsamic)<br /> Caprese (tomatoes, basil pesto, mozzarella)<br /> Bologna (mortadella, Fontina, roasted peppers, balsamic)<br /> Italian hero (sopressata, mortadella, Fontina, tomato, balsamic) <br /> Grilled cheese (several variations) <br /> Cheese and cured meat plates<br /> Chocolate hazelnut bruschetta
Deficiencies
They seem to be a little overboard on creating variations on grilled cheese. Although many of the sandwiches are grilled and heated thoroughly, some of them would be better at room temperature. They'll make anything your way.
For Best Results
Don't come here really hungry. Even if you order a lot of food, it's not the kind of food to gorge on. (This is a good thing.) The ingredients are top quality, but the prices are commensurate. I can't seem to come here without spending $20 per person.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Environment
2
Hipness
2
Local Color
1
Value